Psalm 75, NRSV
1 We give you thanks, O God, we give you thanks, *
calling upon your Name and declaring all your wonderful deeds.
2 "I will appoint a time," says God; *
"I will judge with equity.
3 Though the earth and all its inhabitants are quaking, *
I will make its pillars fast.
4 I will say to the boasters, 'Boast no more,' *
and to the wicked, 'Do not toss your horns;
5 Do not toss your horns so high, *
nor speak with a proud neck.'"
6 For judgment is neither from the east nor from we the west, *
nor yet from the wilderness or the mountains.
7 It is God who judges; *
he puts down one and lifts up another.
8 For in the Lord's hand there is a cup,
full of spiced and foaming wine, which he pours out, *
and all the wicked of the earth shall drink and
drain the dregs.
9 But I will rejoice for ever; *
I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.
10 He shall break off all the horns of the wicked; *
but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.
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Reflection:
I sometimes can feel very shaky and chaotic; we might find ourselves distraught and asking God, “Are you there?” World seems like evil is prevailing and God is silent.
Psalm 75 speaks of God’s presence and authority. Do you follow his ways, see his goodness and give thanks; justice is poured out over the one who return and choose to follow their own ways.
What strikes me in this Psalm is the image of the cup of judgment which God pours out over the wicked. It is described as spiced and foaming wine. I learned thatlearnedthat spiced wine refers to wine that has been mixed with spices to add pungency. God pours out the wine; the wicked seem to drink of their own choice…even draining the dregs. This image seems so depraved. It seems the more one turnsturned his/her heart from God, the more he or she can’t recognize beauty and truth. They are drowning in their own wickedness. It is the result of their lack of humbling themselves before God.
However, I can’t help thinking that God is offering to all another cup, a different cup. A cup of salvation, full of grace and truth. On the night before, Jesus hung on the cross offering forgiveness for our sins, he offered the bread and wine to the disciples.
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“Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” Matthew 22:27–28
For those of us who choose to believe that God is Lord and drink of His cup of salvation, Jesus is our righteousness. Therefore we can rejoice and will be exalted. I believe one of those individuals draining the dregs in the image of this Psalm can also come to see the way of God and humbly choose to follow.
As we know, God is always present and in control, whether we can see the specific way He is moving or not. His love and equitable goodness will prevail.